Assessment
Three things make up the grade in each semester: how you show up in class, how you do on a small set of low-stakes in-class quizzes spaced through the term, and how you write on the final exam. The mix shifts a little between fall and spring, but the architecture is the same.
Weight breakdown
Contracts I (Fall 2026)
| Class participation | 15% |
| Module quizzes (3 × 5%) | 15% |
| Final exam (all essay) | 70% |
| Total | 100% |
Contracts II (Spring 2027)
| Class participation | 10% |
| Module quizzes (3 × 5%) | 15% |
| Final exam (all essay) | 75% |
| Total | 100% |
Philosophy
The architecture is built so a single bad morning does not sink the year. Three scored quizzes per term spread the risk across the semester and produce frequent low-stakes signal about what is sticking and what is not. Cold calls reward the student who shows up prepared each class, not the student who can spike on one test. The final exam asks the muscle the bar will ask: long essays under time pressure, with the doctrine put to work on facts. Different students succeed through different parts of the architecture; the design is to give each one a real path.
What to expect when
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | Module II capstone quiz (Mutual Assent) |
| Tue, Oct 20, 2026 | Module III capstone quiz (Consideration) |
| Thu, Nov 12, 2026 | Module IV capstone quiz (Defenses) |
| Wed, Dec 9, 2026 – Fri, Dec 18, 2026 | Fall final exam window |
| Thu, Feb 11, 2027 | Module V capstone quiz (Interpretation) |
| Thu, Mar 18, 2027 | Module VI capstone quiz (Performance & Breach) |
| Tue, Apr 27, 2027 | Module VII capstone quiz (Money Damages) |
| Wed, May 5, 2027 – Fri, May 14, 2027 | Spring final exam window |
How to do well
- Train the method. Exam Prep covers IRAC structure, multiple-choice technique, and the rubric.
- Use the practice materials. Practice and Self-Study collects the K exercises, the MCQ trainer, the method walkthrough, and the four annotated model essays.
- Come to office hours. The fastest way to clean up a confused rule statement is a five-minute conversation in person.
Every assessment instrument in this course maps to a stated learning objective; the full alignment lives in faculty pedagogy materials.